Coaches will try different alignments to fit their personnel, if they don’t have the luxury to work it the other way.

St. Andrew’s coach Brock Miller said his defense will be a 4-3 (four linemen, three linebackers) or 4-4. He had heard of teams going with a 4-2-5 (five defensive backs).

“That’s the new hot ticket,” Miller said. “I’ve probably got one defensive back, one defensive end, and everybody else is a linebacker.”

He is confident the Lions’ defense, the most established unit on the team, can be “pretty good.”

“Obviously, a team with a big offensive line will wear us down because we don’t have big kids,” Miller said. “We’ve got some kids who will fly to the football. We’re basically a nine-linebacker, two-defensive lineman team.”

Cole Beaudreau and Jake Zaren are the two defensive lineman, with Logan Sims, a starting offensive lineman, providing some relief when needed.

“My two defensive tackles are probably considered defensive backs,” Miller said. “They’re small, but they’re quick and strong. They’re going to be able to create havoc in there. That’s what I need those kids to do so my linebackers can run and get the football.”

Those linebackers — and some may look more like defensive backs — will be expected to play the run and drop back into deep coverage. The plethora of linebackers includes a pair of returning seniors — Sascha Tymchyshyn and Taylor Faulk — as well as a pair of junior transfers, Wright Wallace and Randolph Solomon.

Wallace came over from Savannah Country Day, and Solomon from Windsor Forest, Miller said, and their impact will be felt on both sides of the line.

“Wright is going to be the feature back,” Miller said before the Lions’ season opener. “I got a bunch (of running backs). Those boys will also be my linebackers. So it will depend on who’s playing and who’s tired. They’re all going to play.”

The quarterback position wasn’t as settled when camp opened. Current senior Harrison Lindner was a starter in 2011 before then-freshman Nate Mayo got a late-season opportunity as the Lions closed out a 1-8 campaign.

“The first pass he threw was a touchdown pass,” Miller said of Mayo. “I think he threw three touchdown passes in the last two games.”

Lindner, freshman Caleb Tymchyshyn and Mayo all were contending for time at QB, with Mayo more of “my wildcat guy,” Miller said, noting that Mayo could line up at running back or slot receiver as an H-back “who moves all over the place.”

The Lions have had concerns about special teams — a real trouble spot last season — and a thin offensive line, as Miller would like to stay away from two-way players.

“A big factor is trying to give those guys a break and keep them off of the defense (line),” said Miller, who at least has many familiar faces competing for starting jobs.

“There were a lot of problems with the dynamics going into last year,” the coach said. “This year we’re more organized. I know who’s playing where. We’re a lot further ahead from that standpoint than we were last year.”